Mitsubishi Space Star

Mitsubishi don’t have as many new cars available to the Irish market as before. We’re not exactly sure why, but the Space Star is one that has secured a spot on the sales list. This is a small but spacious vehicle, that possibly deserves more sales. The Space Star is the Colt replacement, and it brings with it some interesting character. However, with small sales figures, it’s not sending shockwaves through the supermini segment.

Performance

There are two engines available to the Irish market, both of which are petrol. The 1.0L version offers 71 bhp, which isn’t going to turn this car into a speed racer any time soon. Getting from 0-100km/h takes 13.6 seconds and it has a top speed of 172km/h. If you want a little more poke you can opt for the 1.2 litre petrol option which will give you just 80 bhp. The 1.2 litre version gives you the choice of a CVT or a 5-speed manual transmission.

Ride & Handling

Unsurprisingly, the Space Star is best suited on city streets. It feels nippy and because of its small dimensions, it is very easy to park. In lower city speed you will also find the steering and turning to be smooth enough. In fact, it’s nearly what we’d call fun. On the motorway it is loud and noisy and you can feel the car work getting to the 120km/h. However, once it gets to 120, it will comfortably stay there.

Refinement

In the city, the Space Star is refined in terms of road noise. This is because the vehicle is not under pressure to perform. Once you put the foot down though, things can get loud, especially when on motorways and dual carriageways. This shouldn’t surprise anyone though - it’s called a city car for a reason.

Quality & Reliability

The Space Star is not the most luxurious car in its category, but when you consider the entry level price, what you get is good enough. There won’t be any postcards home about it though. The plastics seem durable, but they’re not the most attractive to the eye. The layout and the system controls are easy to use though

Safety & Security

The Space Star scored four stars in the Euro NCAP tests, with a whopping 90% for adult occupancy. There are driver and passenger airbags along with side head and chest airbags. The rear also comes with ISOFIX. The CVT model also comes with Hill Start Assist. It would be nice if this also came with the other models – because they’re manual.

Space & Practicality

Anyone who is looking for a supermini or a city car is not looking for masses of space – and if they are then they’re in the wrong category. This is a very practical run around if you need a city car. The boot space is not terrible either, and if you fold down the seats the area gets larger.